Gloriously, last week LOGO greenlit a second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race that’ll air in early 2010. The collective gays here at EW couldn’t be happier at the prospect of another installment: bigger wigs, higher heels, more lip syncing for your life!
Like any good girl on the go, you gotta stay fresh: Bigger wigs, higher heels, more lip syncing for your life! Oh wait, I already said that… But seriously, we’ve got some ideas. Here are nine suggestions that should keep TV’s best—okay, only—search for the next drag superstar on top for season 2:
1. Ramp up the guest judges. There were some great guest arbiters in the first season: Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child; Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls; and Lucy Lawless, to name a few. Keep it coming. Might we suggest Candis Cayne, Cher, and Liza for season 2? Okay, that might be reaching a bit too far towards the stars. The point is, though: Keep the momentum going in this department. Find the best gay/drag icons you can. But don’t ramp the judges up too much. (We’re soooo picky, right?) It wouldn’t be a drag competition if there weren’t some measure of tragedy to the folks who sign on to help Ru tell the latest ousted queen to "sashay away."
2. Now, really use those guest judges. Sadly, we only saw a few minutes of Michelle, Robin, and Lucy during their stints on the show. Next go ’round, howabout a little more action from the folks who fill this role? Involvethem in a challenge at least. And, if a guest does come in to help, make damn sure they’re on the judging panel, too. Question: Why was Charo helping the queens in a challenge, yet MariaConchita Alonso then judging them? Same goes for Tori Spelling and hubbyDean, who showed up during the Oprah challenge, yet were sadly absentfrom the panel.
3. Take Santino and Merle out of the judging room. In the finale, we saw permanent judges, fashion journalist Merle Ginsburg and ex-Project Runwayvillain Santino Rice, doling out the week’s challenge to RebeccaGlasscock, Bebe Zahara Benet, and Nina Flowers. And we liked it—it’sfun to see these two wonky judges out from behind their oh-so-powerfultable. So, how about we put Merle and Santino in the work roomwith the ladies a bit more? Maybe out on a photo shoot, giving advice?Offering their two cents as the queens put their look together for theweek? Yes, yes, and yes. Please.
4. Show us more casting—earlier! Yes, between episode six and the finale, we got the special "rewind" hour that showed tons of footage from casting and other moments that hit the editing room floor. But, Drag Race, why don’t you take a page out of Top Model‘s play book and show lots of ladies early on? The tragedy of those try-outs could go on for days, we’re sure, but give us a half hour of the best during the first episode, and we’ll be satisfied.
5. Temper the camp. Now that you’re all high-falutin’ and renewed for a second season, the tendency may arise to go out of control in the next round. Don’t do it. The camp in season 1 was just right, with the silly challenges and the great catch phrases. As Ru says, "Don’t f— it up!"
6. More photo shoots. There was only one true photo shoot in the eight episodes of season 1, and it was legendary, with the queens getting all wet and bothered while washing a car. More please.
7. Enlist a runway coach. The judging/runway sequences were great because the duds the queens wore were usually amazing. But the actual sashaying? Pathetic. As annoying as Top Model‘s resident runway expert Benny Ninja can be, Drag Race needs to enlist someone like him to teach the contestants a thing or two about how to really work a catwalk.
8. Set the queens free! Surely, it was just budgetary constraints that kept Ru and the queens mostly in the workroom, on the runway, and hanging out in the Inner Illusions Lounge. But we viewers are claustrophobic! Let the contestants out of the closet and into the world in season 2! Whether that’s drag shows in New York City (might we suggest a resurrection of Wigstock?), LA’s fashion week, some Pride festival somewhere—we don’t care. Just don’t keep them cooped up on that soundstage any longer.
9. Bring back Ryan Heffington. There should certainly be lots more of Heffington, the ridiculous mustachioed choreographer who showed up — wearing purple heels, spandex pants, and a tank-top — in the finale to help Rebecca, Nina, and Bebe perfect the dance they’d perform in Ru’s music video for "Cover Girl." Refresh your memory of the genius ridiculata of Ryan with this video below. Fast-forward to about 5:20 for his arrival:
PopWatchers, do you agree? What do you think? What suggestions do you have to keep season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race totally fresh?
More ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ from EW:
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’: LOGO greenlights season 2
RuPaul on ‘Drag Race’: Five rules for a killer comeback
‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ on The Must List
stop posting videos that are viewable only in America. I’m guessing there are quite a few people who do not live in America but who visit ew.com.
…meanwhile, I’ll add Logo to my list of websites that suck. Hey, Hulu, you now have some company!
Love that Drag Race was renewed. Yay!!
oh please I cannot agree with you more. There is nothing more annoying then trying to look at stuff on here and it’s only for the US. If I can subscribe to this magazine in another country you can find videos that are world wide.
Btw this was a fab show, so glad to hear it will return. I forgot how entertaining RuPaul is, more of her please!!!!
The number one thing I’d add to your list: LET THE GIRLS PERFORM. I want to see production numbers — lipsyncing, costumes, props, the woiks. I know they have to clear the numbers, but there must be some they can perform to.
Not to be nit-picky, but the runway coach from Top Model is Miss Jay Alexander. Benny Ninja is their posing expert.
But anyway, I couldn’t be more excited about Season 2!
I think a heterosexual cross-dresser would bring an interesting touch of drama to season two, especially if he isn’t “outed” right away.
Bring back NINA FLOWERS, she could be the TIM GUNN character helping everyone. She is sweet, smart with a great heart and more style than all of them put together.
The show is fieeeeerrrrccccee!! ferocious ferocity!!! Love that Ms.Paul is gettin her 15 back and a half! The show is the sweetest, loveliest, fiercest show on tv right now. Viva la Drag Race y’all!!!
I caught this show when they reran it on VH1 and thought it was really fun. I thought it was funny when RuPaul would have his Tyra moments with the girls and try to get some past heartache out of them.
Get rid of Santino! Nothing he said was ever constructive. There are plenty of potential judges out there. With Project Runway in a holding pattern, how about Tim Gunn? Ramp it up!
God, I love this show. I’m so excited there’s a second season coming. I too would like to see the girls released into the world a little.
Tanner,
You DO realize that most of these suggestions (hire a runway coach, involve the judges in the challenges, more photos shoots, earlier footage in casting) would basically turn this show into “America’s Next Top Model.”
I mean, I watch and enjoy ANTM, so I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m just making sure that YOU know you’re suggestions would basically turn this into an ANTM clone in which the masculine-looking women would ACTUALLY be men.
I love this show just the way it is!
Love Ru, Love Merle, and I really Love Santino Rice!
RuFan is probably Shannel- still bitter, and tacky as ever!
I hope they don’t change a thing and like other reality competitions- Season 2 is going to bring out the most talented queens ever!
They just have to improve the production quality. The lighting on that sound stage was terrible. The colors were so washed out that it was almost painful to watch. Hopefully they’ll have the money/support in the second season to bring it up to a professional level.
Love Ru Paul and the drag race. So happy that it gets a season 2. That’s some must see tv. But will they find a beauty as comparable to Shannel next season?